Obit: O’Black, William P. (1948 - 2023)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: O’Black, Zager, Oestreich, Gans, Elias, Fink, McAvoy, Beaver, Stutte, Thelen

----Source: Rembs Funeral Home (Marshfield, Wood Co., WI) 2/18/2023

O’Black, William P. (18 March 1948 – 14 February 2023) With Flag

William P. O’Black, 74, Marshfield, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at Marshfield Medical Center, surrounded by loving family.

William was born on March 18, 1948, in Loyal, to Paul and Irene (Zager) O’Black, into a family of busy beekeepers. Tragically, Bill lost his parents at a very young age, and Shirley, the oldest sister took him and little sister Peg in to raise alongside her own children. It was at the Corn Festival in Loyal, when at age 16, Bill met the love of his life, Rebecca Oestreich (Becky), the woman he would marry on September 7, 1968, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, have children with, and lovingly support and be supported by, throughout the course of his life.

Bill joined the Air Force in 1968, being stationed in Tucson, AZ where Becky and baby son, Paul, joined him until he was honorably discharged in 1972. After his daughter, Libby, was born, Bill had another hungry mouth to feed but was determined to go to college, and he attended University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, earning a degree in Business while also working nights and raising a family. He was soon employed at Wausau Insurance as a computer systems analyst, with self-taught skills in computer programming, and even typing. Not many people, much less men of his generation were good typists, but Bill was! Undeterred by challenges, Bill then began attending graduate school, and earned his MBA in 1979 from University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.

After working at Wausau Insurance for 12 years, Bill wanted a change and convinced Becky to move their family to Petaluma, CA, to pursue a career at Fireman’s Fund Insurance (later Allianz) where he quickly became an expert in their systems programming and was asked to spend a year in Munich, Germany as an advisor to Allianz. That was a wonderful year for Becky and Bill and was the beginning of their love of European travel. They especially loved Beckenried, Switzerland, and visited many times with dear friends and family. Sie liebten es dort.

Nearly 20 years of living in Petaluma cured Bill of his California dreaming and he and Becky returned home to Wisconsin, to build a magnificent log cabin on 60 acres near Edgar, hoisting giant logs into place with a crane and working together to finish every detail of their beautiful dream home. They spent the next 12 years enjoying their life in that home, the wide, sweeping porch, visits from wildlife, quiet time spent together, walks in the woods with Elsie, Bill’s bouncing and ever faithful companion, and welcoming a host of friends and family up their long and winding driveway.

Life back in Wisconsin meant Bill volunteering with the American Legion in Marshfield, where he actively participated at nearly every opportunity, serving at food stands at the Central Wisconsin State Fair, at other fundraisers, and at community Christmas and Harvest Dinners. Bill had deep empathy for all those he came in contact with and was generous and non-judgmental in his treatment of people from all walks of life and family situations. Bill took great pride in his military service and was humbled by being presented with a Legacy Stone at the High Ground in Neillsville, in 2012, and in 2019, he participated in an Honor Flight, a trip to Washington D.C and the Vietnam War Memorial, for veterans who served during wartime.

Bill, like his parents, was a very hard worker, but that wasn’t the only thing that defined him. Bill was an avid athlete, game player, card player, crossword puzzler, and sports fan. He loved working outside, making wood to heat his home (piles and piles of it!) raking, mowing, shoveling, and trimming. He loved the smell of the land and trees, the dappled light of the sun through the leaves, and the sound and spray of the crashing waves on the California coast. Bill enjoyed golfing and bowling with buddies, and was an almost unbeatable bar game player – shuffleboard, pool, darts, dice, you name it – he could play them all and play them well, which he did at every opportunity with friends, family, and grandkids. Bill loved a road trip and piled his family into the car for epic trips on many occasions, three early ones to California and Wyoming to see family and too many to count later in life, when Bill and Becky enjoyed exploring the beautiful American west together.

Bill was fun to be around, a much adored husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He loved his extended family very much and always wanted to see and hold the babies, hug his nieces and nephews, prop his grandkids on his lap, and share a beer, a game, and good laugh with friends and family alike. Even as things got more and more difficult for Bill later in his life, he never complained, and was always a cheerful companion.

Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Rebecca and their children, Paul (Shannon) O’Black of Durango, CO and Elizabeth (Phillip) O’Black Gans of Santa Barbara, CA. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two great grandchildren, Sarah (Mel) Elias and their daughter Eden; Benjamin O’Black, Egan (Diana Eaton) Gans and their son Ripley; Wheeler (Allison Fink) Gans, Ruby Gans and Molly Gans. He is further survived by a sister Peggy (John) McAvoy and a brother-in-law Carlton Beaver. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Shirley Beaver and Carol Stutte. Bill was very fond of his American Legion family and the work they do in the community.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, February 24, 2023, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Marshfield, with Father Danial Thelen officiating. The service will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes. Military rites will be conducted by the State of Wisconsin Military Honor Guard and the American Legion Post 54 of Marshfield, at St. John’s Catholic Church, following the service. A gathering for family and friends will be from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Thursday at Rembs Funeral Home, Marshfield, and from 9:30 am until service time on Friday at St. John’s Catholic Church.

Bill was very fond of his American Legion family and the work they do in the community.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated in Bill’s name to the American Legion Post 54 of Marshfield. Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.